Nineteen
U SES OF A S HOE
C anon Prescott came back from the water’s edge slightly short of breath (playing with children is always exhausting).
Presently he and his sister went back to the hotel, finding the beach a little too hot.
“But,” said Se?ora de Caspearo scornfully as they walked away—“how can a beach be too hot? It is nonsense that—And look what she wears—her arms and her neck are all covered up. Perhaps it is as well, that. Her skin it ishideous, like a plucked chicken!”
Miss Marple drew a deep breath. Now or never was the time for conversation with Se?ora de Caspearo.
Unfortunately she did not know what to say. There seemed to be no common ground on which they could meet.
“You have children, Se?ora?” she inquired.
“I have three angels,” said Se?ora de Caspearo, kissing her fingertips.
Miss Marple was rather uncertain as to whether this meant that Se?ora de Caspearo’s offspring were in Heaven orwhether it merely referred to their characters.
One of the gentlemen in attendance made a remark in Spanish and Se?ora de Caspearo flung back her headappreciatively and laughed loudly and melodiously¹.
“You understand what he said?” she inquired of Miss Marple.
“I’m afraid not,” said Miss Marple apologetically.
“It is just as well. He is a wicked man.”
A rapid and spirited interchange of Spanish badinage² followed.
“It is infamous—infamous,” said Se?ora de Caspearo, reverting³ to English with sudden gravity, “that the police donot let us go from this island. I storm, I scream, I stamp my foot—but all they say is No—No. You know how it willend—we shall all be killed.”
Her bodyguard⁴ attempted to reassure⁵ her.
“But yes—I tell you it is unlucky here. I knew it from the first—That old Major, the ugly one—he had the Evil Eye—you remember? His eyes they crossed—It is bad, that! I make the Sign of the Horns every time when he looks myway.” She made it in illustration. “Though since he is cross-eyed I am not always sure when he does look my way—”

分享到：